ESCRS Launches New Awareness Campaign to Highlight the 20th Anniversary of LASIK - the Most Common Type of Laser Vision Correction

69% of Europeans Believe That Laser Eye Surgery is a Safe and Established Procedure, but Despite This More Than 80% per Cent Still Have Reservations About Having it Themselves

DUBLIN, September 3, 2010 - The European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) today
launches LASIK Safe in Our Hands (www.LASIKSafeinOurHands.com), a new
awareness campaign to ensure that people considering laser vision correction
have access to accurate, up-to-date information. The need for better
information about laser refractive eye surgery is brought into focus by the
results of a recent survey of 1,000 people across Europe (Opinion Health,
2010). It showed that over 80% of respondents had reservations about the
procedure. Approximately two out of three people cited some degree of fear at
the prospect of laser vision correction as the reason for their caution,
while about a third said that they would need more information. This
contrasts sharply with the views of people who have already experienced the
benefits of LASIK who were almost unanimous in their endorsement of the
procedure - a staggering 98% confirmed that they would recommend it to
someone else.

ESCRS President José Güell, a leading eye surgeon from Barcelona, Spain
remarked, "LASIK can be a life changing procedure, but these survey results
show that people do not understand just how safe and effective modern LASIK
is in the hands of a well qualified and experienced laser eye surgeon. We
hope that our new campaign, LASIK Safe in Our Hands will help to bridge the
information gap so that more people might benefit from good vision without
glasses or contact lenses."

ESCRS has designated 2010 to be the European Year of LASIK, marking the
20th anniversary of the first LASIK surgery in 1990 by Greek eye surgeon
Ioannis Pallikaris. Currently 3.5 million LASIK surgeries are carried out
each year in Europe and it is the most common form of laser eye surgery to
correct long-sight, short-sight and astigmatism.

The survey also highlighted that over 70% of Europeans think that wearing
glasses or contact lenses makes it difficult to participate in some sports
and nearly 75% think that wearing glasses is inconvenient in different
weather conditions. Buying and replacing glasses and contact lenses is
perceived to be expensive by 84% of people taking part in the survey, but
only about a third think that laser eye surgery provides a cheaper
alternative if the cost is spread over a ten year period. However, for many
people, LASIK will be the less expensive option over this time period.

Notes to Editors

See videos and further background information available to download at:
www.oursocialmedia.com/uk/escrs-uk/lasiksafeinourhands

LASIK Safe in Our Hands: www.LASIKSafeinOurHands.com

About the survey:

The survey was carried out online by Opinion Health in May 2010. One
thousand people took part - 200 from each of five participating countries
(France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK).

About ESCRS:

Founded in 1991, ESCRS is Europe's leading professional society for
cataract and refractive surgeons and is at the forefront of developments in
anterior segment surgery. Anterior segment surgery refers to surgery of the
front third of the eye which includes the cornea, iris and lens.

The ESCRS currently has 5,000 members from over 90 different countries
worldwide. The ESCRS offers a unique forum for discussion and learning which
ensures that international expertise is shared by ophthalmic surgeons all
over Europe.

For more information please see ESCRS main website: www.escrs.org

About LASIK:

Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) is the most
frequently-performed type of laser surgery to correct short-sight (myopia),
long-sight (hyperopia) and astigmatism.

To be eligible for LASIK, people should be at least 21 years of age, have
healthy eyes and be in good general health. Vision should not have
deteriorated significantly over the previous two to three years.

LASIK is not generally recommended for people with eye conditions such as
cataract, glaucoma and herpes eye infection and it may not be suitable for
people with other medical conditions such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis
and lupus, or for those receiving treatment with some medicines, such as oral
steroids.

Patients should consult their ophthalmic surgeon to discuss whether LASIK
is a suitable option for them.

Media enquiries: Rachel Terry, Burson-Marsteller London, Office: +44-20-7300-6352, Mobile: +44-7887-85-22-75, Email: rachel.terry at bm.com .